Motor heat indicator



A. B. SCHUPP MOTOR HEAT INDICATOR April '29, 1930.

Filed July 26, 1928 I i E INVENTOR Alf/e45. Sam/pp ATTORNEYS of the invention; I

, Figure 2 1s a vertical, sectional, detail wow Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED IB. SCHUPI OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MEN 'TS, TO MOTO METER GAUGE 8a EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Application filed July 26,

This invention relates to motor heat indicating means, and has to ,do particularly with heat indicators adapted to be mounted on radiator caps of motor Vehicles in View of thedriver for warning the driver of conditions dangerous to continued operation.

It is an object of theinvention to provide in an instrument of this character means for illuminating the indicator element and for rendering it conspicuous.

'To these endsprovision is desirably made of an instrument comprising a thermometer stem,a dial, a casing for the stem and dial, and illuminating means concealed in the easing and so arranged that the light from the source of illumination is directed longitudinally of the thermometer stem, and is caused to escape from the casing principally through the thermometer stem. By this means the thermometer stem is caused to become the apparent source of illumination, and to radivate a subdued light which makes the instrument conspicuous and easy to read without producing an objectionable glare.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specificationz' v Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of an instrument embodying, features of an insulating terminal carrying sleeve employed in the embodiment of Figure 1;

.Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail view of the casing assembly; and

' Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in sec- 7 tion, and partly broken away, of the instru- 'ment illustrated in Figure 1. 40

The illustrative instrument may be of the type of the Boyce -MotoMeter, and comprises a generally circular casing 1 and a threaded stem 2. A thermometer tube 3 containing a suitable colored indicating liquid is mounted in the casing and stem with the bulb portion of the tube situated in the lower part of the stem and the stem portion of the tube situated in an opening in the casing. Thev casing 1 terminates atits lower extremity in a circular base member 4 adapted to rest upon 1928. Serial No. 295,381.

the cap of an automobile radiator. The instrument is secured upon the cap by passing the threaded stem 2 through an opening in the cap and clamping it in place by means of suitable clamping washers and nuts (not shown).

The casing 1 is provided with annular rabbets in the front and rear faces thereof which support packing rings 5. Cover glasses6 are positioned over the packing rings, and retaining rings 7 are mounted to overlie the beveled edges of the cover glasses and hold them in place, the retaining rings being secured to the casing by suitable screws 8.

When installed as described, the bulb portion of the thermometer is exposed to the temperature of the usual air space in the upper part of the radiator and the stem or indicating part of the thermometer stem 3 projects outside the radiator and is visible to the driver from the drivers seat. The principal purpose of the present invention is to facilitate the reading of the indications given by the thermometer under all conditions oflight and darkness, and particularly at night when natural illumination does not sufiice.

The instrument comprises a suitable dial, mounted to form a background for the thermometer stem, this dial being secured between the packing ring and the cover glass which are normally remote from the driver of the vehicle.

The formof the dial constitutes a feature of the present invention. For the purpose of admitting the greatest possible amount of natural light to the thermometer stem and thereby minimizing the necessity for artificial illumination, the dial plate is skeletonized, as shown, all portions being omitted except such as are necessary for supporting the dial and for cooperating with-the thermometer stem to advise the driver of the significance of the movement of the thermometer liquid.

, For the purpose of providing artificial illumination for the thermometer stem, provision is made of a hollow boss 9 at the top of the casing 1, and an electric lam 10 is mounted within the box. The lamp is insertable into the bossthrough an opening in the top thereof, and'is adapted to have its center terminal contacted by a threaded closure plug 11 that is I screwed into the boss for holding'the lamp in place. The lamp is supported in alignment With the 'therrnometer steman'd isgpressed up Wardagainst the closure llbya 'coil spring l2 that surrounds the upper tip of the-them mometer stem and-theflotyerstip of the lamp bulbl; ,This spring ii-seffiectiue .to maintain a good electrical connection between the .cen ter terminal of the lamp and the closure 11 and also to preventvibration'rofitlle lamllg.

and to maintain alignment of the lamp and the thermometer stem.- "'A flanged 'ri'ng l-g'i's mounted Within the casing 1, being spaced inward a short "distanc'ei'from the casing "to provide an "annularspace between the casing ianld tlfering. This ringis'jp'rouided Witha loifver opeiii'i g 14 "and an upper opening 15,

which openings 'receiye' and substantially fit the thermometer stem. The ,upper'opening '155 pi' eyents'escapeof any substantial amount of lightirom the casing, exeept'gsucli rays as are;projectetl"vertically downward and pass through t'hektherrnomter stem. 'The marginal "portion ofthe-"ring bordering upon the upper opening "T serVes asafsupport "for the spring 12. "The lighting-device, mounted as described, is elfective" both to render'thethermometer stemconspicuousand to "illuminate it softhat itfimay be readf v Gu'rrent may he conducted to thelamp through-a suitablebattery' conductor 16 provided*Witlia terniinal clip'or.socket"1*6v. Pro- -vision is-made of a'le'ad in -terminal 1 6 at'lth'e bottom of the casing adaptedfor' detachable connection to; such socket 16 The "terminal 116 is-mo'untedin an insulating'sleeve IV and-is connected through conductor l -8 which passe-sthrouglitlre annular space between the ring l gand the'casingI to the upperpart'of the casing. The conductor 'l '8 is connecited a'tits upper'end' to a terminal clip 19 having sp ring arms 20 adapted to enibrace grip "the riimerminal' "21'ofth'e lamp 1U. Theter- 1'9is 'mOunt-ediin, and carrifctl'by an insu'lati-ng sleeVe2 2 adapted ito fit snugly in the cavity of boss 9..

:stru'menton the motor Vehicleinvo'h es' only the securementfdf" the instrument upon a raplugfrl wit-lidiawing 'the -(:liatorca'p andthe coninection of albatteryter- 'minal to theterminal116 offthe instrument. T e 1 current [Will thenfiow trom the battery 7 7 inalrthrough"terminal Ill, conductor 1 8, terminal clip f19riin=termiua1 21, the-filament foftflamp '10, tlieiicethrougli the center contact ofthe lamp-andcl e'llitogr'oundf Since "the desert-1 1 is reatlilymeinovable from theboss 9.and terminal 1 'pl with yiul isgy.pisssurau is eyint ft hatia" burned out Eblilb may be read-r "replaced simply-i y unsc'rewi'u. the

f burfied' out iilb,

and substituting a fresh one. ;To facilitate such replacement the lamp bulb is made of substantially no greater diameter than the lamp base, so that the bulb may be slid past the clip Withthe same facility as the base. Thai-closure llisjprovided with az cenitral recess 23 for receptionbit'" the --center""contact ofthe'lamp 10. The inner face of the plug is beveled or-c oncaved to cause-{the eentericontacttoqfindithiscentral recess and becometseated in it as the :plug isrscrewed-home. The

lamp is thus definitely centered and prevent \e'difrmniheing jolted from side to side When the vehicle is in operation.

- lit avill be db'servetl that the lamp is cushioned longitudinally the spring 12 and is cushioned laterally by the" yieldable terminal clip a'msiQO sotliat liability of destruction of 'thiehfimment y j ng is re'duced t -q minimum, 1 r i J Whi'le I have illustratedlanddescrib ed' in detail certain preferred '-";for s; f my-inven- 'tion, it istobe'understocfd thatchan'ges may the spring, sai'd clo'sure haying a central recesst'o receivethecenter'contacti 1 .2. In a heat indicator, in combination, a thermometer having-a transparent "stem, a casing, aspring supported in ali'gnrnentiwith saidi'stem, aflamp includin'ga bulb'a-tzone end,

and acenter'contactprojecti'on at the other end, .ande plug insertable into itlre casing and engageable with the" center contact for mov'ingfthe againstftlie' opposition of :the spring, saidplug' havingga eent' m recess to receive the center .contaeuand haviing its surface surrounding; the recess inclined toward [the recess. i

3. a heat indieatorpi-n combination,- .a

thermometer; hauing aqtransparent stefi1, a

casing, ian' electri'c lampfhaving a bulb; and a .iba'segthe vba-sesincludingicenterwandirim' :ter- :mzinals, ra terminall'clip fin rthe tcasing aila'pted itofengage zthe'a'imtterminahf and awemova'ble closure fir 'the-casmg adapteu toengage the eeimz'er terminal, as lamp bulb being subs anuany OT-no larger "cross-section 'tl'r'ahthe base-so fthafithe bulbport'ion "fthe l'amp may be slid-past "the terminalil p Witlfthe" same facility as the lamp base when the plug is withdrawn from the casing.

4. In a heat indicator, in combination, a thermometer having a transparent stem, 2. lamp, means housing the lamp in alignment with the thermometer stem, including a plug for making contact with the center of the lamp base, and a spring engaging the lamp bulb and urging the lamp toward said plug. 5. In a heat indicator, in combination, a r thermometer having a transparent stem, a shield surrounding one end of said stem, a spring resting on the shield and embracing the end of the stem, and an electric lamp having the bulb portion thereof engaged by the spring and positioned by the spring in longitudinal alignment 7 with the thermometer stem. 7 6. In a heat indicator for indicating the thermal condition of a vehicle motor, in combination, a thermometer having a transparent stem, a casing, an electric lamp mounted in the casing for illuminating the thermometer stem, said lamp including center and rim 5 terminals, a spring supporting the lamp and pressing the center terminal into engagement with a portion of the casing, and a conductive spring clip embracing the rim terminal and serving as a lateral cushioning support for 3 the lamp.

7. In a heat indicator adapted to be mounted on the radiator cap of a motor vehicle for indicating the thermal condition of the m0- tor, in combination, a casing having an opening therethrough, a thermometer having the indicating portion of its stem mounted in said opening, and a dial cooperating with the thermometer and forming a background therefor, said dial being of skeleton form to 49 avoid obstructing the passage of light through the opening of the casing.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

ALFRED B. SOHUPP. 

